Improving Minority Health in Buncombe County
Communities across America are focusing on the health of minorities during the month of April. Locally, community partners are promoting a project focused on improving health in Buncombe County by 1) providing health screenings and referrals to medical care, 2) offering classes to help people “take charge” of their chronic diseases, and 3) offering special programs and classes for minority populations. Health equity is based on the belief that everyone in our community should have the same opportunities to make choices that allow them to live a long, healthy life, regardless of their income, education or ethnic background. The Minority Health Project aims to make opportunities to be healthy easier for minorities.
The NC Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities awarded Buncombe County Health and Human Services and key organizational partners with a 3-year grant to improve the health outcomes in underserved and minority populations. In 2008, a Buncombe County African American resident under age 75 was 54% more likely to die than a white resident. The infant death rate for 2006-2010 is 4.7 for whites and 11.7 for African Americans, which means that African American babies are more than twice as likely to die as white babies. Given these differences in health outcomes, the minority health project is increasing the focus on promoting health and health care within our minority population.
Since July 2012, Buncombe County Department of Health and Human Services, in partnership with the Asheville Buncombe Institute of Parity Achievement (ABIPA), YWCA, Land of Sky Regional Council, Mt. Zion Community Development and UNC-Asheville, have been working to coordinate outreach events for health education and screenings, help getting enrolled in Medicaid, referrals to a medical provider and encouragement to join classes or programs if they have risks or illness related to a chronic disease or STD’s, or if they are pregnant.
A new focus of this project is the promotion of the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP), also known as the “Living Healthy” programs. “Living Healthy” and “Living Healthy with Diabetes” programs are interactive workshops that take place once a week for 6 weeks. Each session is 2 ½ hours long, and all workshops are led by 2 trained leaders (many of whom are volunteers who have taken charge of their own chronic illnesses) who follow a course guide so that each workshop is consistent. These programs are not designed to help people to learn more about chronic conditions, but rather to learn the skills and tools to better manage their chronic conditions. Participants learn about and practice skills related to eating healthy, managing stress and pain, use of medication, ways to include exercise in daily life, and how to meet their goals.
Physician Testimonial
“The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, also known as “Living Healthy”, is a fantastic 6 week course that has helped my patients with diabetes and other chronic illnesses improve their ability to make positive changes, such as eating better, exercising more often, and managing stress. I highly recommend this program for anyone who is living with health problems and wants to try a more proactive approach to better health.”
Suzanne Landis, MD, MPH, Director, Division of Healthcare Innovation Director, Center for Healthy Aging MAHEC Professor, Department of Family Medicine University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 121 Hendersonville Rd. Asheville, NC 28803. 828-258-0670 or 771-3425 (voice mail) or email: [email protected]
The increased collaboration among community partners who are working to improve minority health has been beneficial because each partner has their own specialty; yet they are working better together. Through this project, we hope to make healthy living easier for our minority populations as well as those who are at-risk or living with chronic diseases.
For more information on the different programs offered through our project partners, please visit their websites at the links below:
• Land of Sky Regional Council works primarily with the “Living Healthy” classes, coordinating classes as well as training program leaders. Find out more at: agingwelllearningnetwork
• The YWCA has two classes centered on diabetes: 1) Diabetes Wellness Program and 2) Diabetes Prevention Program. Find out more at: www.ywcaofasheville.org
• ABIPA — The Asheville Buncombe Institute of Parity Achievement provides outreach & education to different communities around Asheville/Buncombe County, with services that range from blood pressure screening to cancer prevention. Find out more at: www.abipa.org
• Mt. Zion Community Development operates Project NAF (Nurturing Asheville Families) and Project EMPOWER, which focuses on teen pregnancy & STD prevention. Find out more at: www.mtzionasheville.org
For questions or more information about the Minority Health Project in Buncombe County please contact Alma Atkins by calling (828) 215-5813.
